EFP 80: Neil Brand on 100 Years of Laurel and Hardy

On this episode, we discuss the work of legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, whose careers straddled both the silent and sound eras.They were active between the 1920s and the 1950s, making more than a hundred films together and their unmistakeable big man-little man dynamic would go on to influence many a comedy double-act, from Abbott and Costello to Morecambe and Wise.This year marks the centenary of Laurel and Hardy’s first appearance in a film together and to mark the occasion Neil Brand has been touring a show celebrating Stan and Ollie’s extraordinary artistry. Neil is a writer, broadcaster, composer and peerless silent cinema pianist. His show arrives in Scotland this month and he joined host Dr Pasquale Iannone to discuss the Boys.In their conversation, Neil and Pasquale place them in the context of other giants of American screen comedy such as Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. They also explore Neil’s previous work on Stan and Ollie, such as his brilliant radio play starring British acting royalty Tom Courtenay. Neil tells Pasquale about the structure of his centenary show, what audiences can expect as well as the joys and challenges of improvising silent film scores.Neil will be appearing at The Gaiety Theatre in Ayr, The Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, Airdrie’s Town Hall, Eden Court in Inverness and the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy. For more information, go to the website: laurelandhardypresentedbyneilbrand.co.uk.